ABK marks Int’l Day of Sign Languages

KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) is celebrating the International Day of Sign Languages today, with the bank highlighting that it currently provides services for customers with hearing disabilities at seven branch locations across Kuwait.

The International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated globally and aims to raise awareness of the importance of sign language and the importance of being able to communicate with people that have a hearing impediment. According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are approximately 72 million deaf people worldwide.

In a move to improve communication with its customers with hearing disabilities, ABK holds sign language training courses on a regular basis for branch staff. The courses focus on providing specialized training to staff responsible for assisting the bank’s special needs customers with their banking needs.

ABK is committed to playing an active role in the communities it operates in, and to encourage a stronger sense of belonging among all individuals in those communities. The bank currently provides sign language services at its Head Office, and at the Shaab, Jabriya, Qurain, South Sabahiya, Al-Firdous and Jahra 1 branches. ABK provided 23 staff with specialized training so that they could assist special needs’ customers with their banking needs, and all trained staff wear badges showing that they know how to communicate with sign language.